Maria Pencheva, BACP

Maria Pencheva is a UK-based therapist with four years of clinical experience who works with people facing stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, and depression. She holds the BACP credential - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - which reflects her training in counselling and commitment to professional standards. Maria blends empathy with practical skills to support clients in navigating emotional challenges and building resilience.

Her work centers on a person-centered philosophy that treats each client as the expert of their own story while also highlighting existing strengths that can fuel change. In sessions she brings warmth, openness, and curiosity, offering a space where feelings and experiences can be explored without judgment. Maria uses approaches that support emotional regulation, confidence-building, and finding greater meaning and purpose when life feels overwhelming.

Maria’s background includes roles as an interpreter, advocate, and business manager, experiences that have deepened her understanding of diverse life circumstances and enhanced her ability to relate to people from varied backgrounds. She offers therapy in English and Bulgarian and is available to work with international clients. Maria aims to empower people to feel heard, supported, and capable of making the changes they want in their lives.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care with Maria Pencheva

Maria draws on client-centered therapy to create a respectful, non-directive environment where the client’s experience guides the work. This approach emphasizes empathy, active listening, and meeting people where they are, which can be helpful for building self-esteem, processing relationship concerns, and exploring personal values.

She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors. CBT can be useful for managing anxiety, panic, low mood, and stress by introducing practical strategies for coping and gradual change.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative part of the therapeutic process. Maria will work with each person to clarify goals, discuss what methods may suit their needs, and adapt the way she works as therapy unfolds so the plan fits the client’s preferences and situation.

Online therapy with Maria is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility and easier access across time zones. These options make it possible to maintain continuity of care while fitting therapy around work, family, and other commitments, and allow therapists and licensed professionals to tailor sessions to how clients communicate best.